Detailed Itinerary
On your arrival at Colombo International Airport you will be received and greeted by our representative and transfer you to Negombo, a seaside town situated just 20 minutes drive from the airport. After a long haul flight from Elope, it is important that you stay two nights in Negombo, by the beach to rest and settle before your round trip in tropical Island of Sri Lanka.
During these two days you could spend some relaxing time by the beach and do some leisurely strolls on the beach side roads where you could try some authentic Sri Lankan seafood at myriad of seaside restaurants and bars. On day two morning you will be taken for a guided boat trip in the Dutch built canal through to lagoon, fish market and to a fishing village where you could understand the fishermen way of life. Negombo remains predominantly a fishing village. Negombo was an important trading port during the Dutch period, as a result to date you could witness Dutch period built buildings and churches in and around Negombo.
After breakfast on day three we take a drive to the heart of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, Sigiriya. 4 to 5 hours drive approximately. When in Sigiriya you could explore Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Polonnaruwa ruins and ancient temple monastery of <Pidurangala at your own pace. Apart from these ancient heritage sites we take you to a guided afternoon safari in Minneriya National Park to see Elephants in the wild. If you are interested in exploring rural villages, jungles, rice fields and lakes, we have a very interesting,authentic jeep ride with a villager. Sigiriya is a very good place to do bird watching if you are a keen bird watcher.
In Sigiriya, you stay in a Tree House in a nature lodge surrounded by mountains and farming fields, situated away from the hustle and bustle of the town. When in the nature lodge in your leisure time you would be able to do some nature trails with a naturalist to explore the wonders of the nature and also do some interesting cycle rides around the lodge and this is an ideal way to interact with local farmers in the area.
On day six we venture further towards the north of the Island where the scenery, culture and food takes a different shape and colour. The diversity at it’s best. The northern peninsular of Sri Lanka is home for Tamil culture and food. On this 3 nights trip to northern peninsular, you would be able to taste Jaffna food (Do not miss to taste Jaffna Crab curry), interact with Tamil community and explore the less travelled areas of Sri Lanka. Cycling in Jaffna town and it’s outskirts, taking a boat trip to Delft Island and visiting a Hindu temple are the key highlights.
When in Jaffna, we stay closer to the Jaffna town in a simple guest house.
After a long drive from the northern peninsular, you will be staying in a home stay with a local family in Kandy. You could take part in cooking of unique Sri Lankan delicacy of Hoppers for dinner. After dinner, have a chit chat with the local family exchanging cultural experiences. You will be sleeping in a cozy Tree House tonight.
Our specialist trekking guide, a villager in Kandy will take you for 2 nights and 3 days trekking expedition in the Knuckles mountains and indigenous tribal Vedda village where you would be witnessing the best mountainous sceneries in Sri Lanka. Kandyan home gardens, tea estates, waterfalls and cloud forests are some of the highlights on day one of the trip and you will be sleeping a basic camp in the mountains. On day two of the trekking trip you will be making your way to Vedda village through the forests and some parts by the road. At Vedda village you would be able to understand and witness the primitive lifestyle of an indigenous tribe. 2nd night of the trekking expedition you will be sleeping in tents at Vedda village. Veddas will perform few of their tribal dances for your pleasure.
on this day, you will be transferred to Kandy where you will be met with our chauffeur who will take you to the foothills of Adam’s Peak; another challenging adventure is about take place as you follow the paths of centuries old pilgrimage ritual on 5000 stepped climb to Adam’s peak summit. You sleep in a guest house closer to the foot hills of Adam’s peak.
After a brief sleep, we start ascend to the peak just after midnight in order to arrive at the peak in time for sunset. After witnessing a glorious sunset, we start descending through an off the beaten track, not the path that everyone takes. In this secret route you will witness some the best sights Adam’s Peak offers. Cloud forests, tea estates, cold streams and waterfalls where the British planters made their plantation bungalows.
After breakfast at the guest house you stayed, we then catch the train to Ella from Hatton railway station for s scenic train journey at 1.55PM.
On the second day in Ella, is your rest day after an arduous climb to Adam’s Peak. On day three in Ella, you are free to do some scenic trekking on your own to popular places such as nine arch bridge, Little Adam’s Peak, Ella gap and also take take a Tuk Tuk ride to Lipton’s Seat and Dambatenna Tea Factory. Ella is popular among travelers to Sri Lanka for scenic trekking.
For three nights, you stay in a small guest house in Ella with a very scenic view of the Ella Mountains.
The much needed beach break, here we come, east coast beach of Arugam Bay where the surf breaks awaits for the adventurous wave riders. Not only the beach, Arugam Bay and Panama village remains one of the most authentic rural hideaways where rural villages, unexplored cultural sites and less travelled wildlife sanctuaries await to be explored. You will be on your own in Arugam Bay but when needed our specialist villages guides will be at your service taking you for guided excursions to pre historic era caves, centuries old monasteries, venerated Hindu temples, ancient Buddhist cultural sites to lagoon catamaran trips. If you happen to come in mid July you would be able to witness or even take part in the foot pilgrimage of Pada Yathra where Hindu devotees takes a foot pilgrimage across Kumana and Yala National Park to worship Lord Skanda Shrine in Kataragama.
After breakfast in Ella, we drive to the valley below the central mountains. A 2 ½ hours drive to Wellawaya, a remote town bordering central mountains, Udawalawe and Yala National Parks. Another 10kms off the grid is this gem of a place, a rural farming field where you would be spending two nights experiencing very local things. This rural farm has eco cabanas by the lake where Elephants come to quench their thirst. So you would be able to see the wild Elephants at the comfort of your cabana. At the farm you could cook a farm dinner with the team, go canoeing in the lake, learn to make traditional delicacy of “Curd”, a dairy based traditional Sri Lankan dessert, go fishing in traditional style and also the key highlight is going for an evening picnic to nearby Elephant corridor to watch Elephants in the wild from a rock cliff where a sun downer is served. This is an authentic and very local experience.
After breakfast at the farm, you will be then driven to the south coast beach of Unawatuna, in Galle. Needless to say, Galle was a very important town in the Dutch history of Sri Lanka. Galle Fort in the middle of the town could be reached from Unawatuna within 10 minutes drive.
Apart from spending some lazy time on Unawatuna beach, you could explore Galle Fort, town, vegetable market and also fish market. There are some interesting cycle rides too in the countryside of Galle. Do not forget to visit a Turtle hatchery and see stilt fishermen of Koggala.
After breakfast, drive down to the airport for flight back home.
